Chapter 534 New Developments
Winter has arrived, and this winter always brings back memories of the past, a fear engraved in their bones. Just as they feared, winter has arrived!
The heavy snow blocked the road, and the thick snow even made it difficult for animals in the forest to move.
In the villages outside the city, it was common for houses to collapse due to heavy snow, mainly because the owners were shivering with cold and had no courage to leave the house.
Even if they died, they would not receive any help, because no one dared to step out of the door. There were countless people who froze to death in the house. When the firewood was burned out, they had to go out to chop wood. Once they entered the forest, they could not come out.
Under the severe cold, the lives of the nobles in the city were not much better. The shockingly low temperature made Luga want to launch another offensive while the Suebi army was unable to respond in winter. However, God was not merciful. The severe cold and blizzard forced this ambitious military strategist to bow to nature.
It can be said that the blizzard forced him and his army back to Tarraco. The soldiers hid in the barracks and shivered. There were no patrolling guards on the road because no one believed that there was any fearless guy who dared to go out in such cold weather.
At this time, King Theoderic of Visigoth of Tolosa in northern Iberia was extremely worried because of the blizzard. The ice and snow caused the death of a large number of cattle and sheep in his territory. In order to ensure food supply, Theoderic had to ask his subjects to eat these dead cattle and sheep. However, as time went on, more and more cattle and sheep died. He even began to worry whether he and his army could survive until the next spring.
Of course, this was not the most uncomfortable thing for him. When he learned that the Roman army had razed Salamantiera to the ground, he began to worry. After all, the commander of this army was Flavius Luca, and the speed of the attack was far beyond what he could imagine.
Theoderic even began to feel fortunate because the extremely bad weather stopped Luca's attack, and his great military exploits spread throughout the Roman Empire.
His army had been confronting the main force of the Suebi for two years, and the war was intermittent with no end in sight. If he had not been worried about Aetius, the Roman behind him, he might have been able to deal with these barbarians in a very short time!
Because it was cold, he put on three layers of sheepskin coats, and the heavy clothes made him look like a bear. Sitting in front of the campfire, a sheep was roasted in front of him, and the family was having a meal here.
Thorismon was in his prime and much stronger than his father Theoderic. Likewise, Theoderic often praised Thorismon as being as strong and reliable as the warhorse that accompanied him.
Torrismon had an astonishing appetite. He chopped off a sheep's hind leg with his iron sword and ate it with relish. The ladies could only use their knives to cut the mutton piece by piece and put it into their mouths.
Theoderic seemed to have no appetite. He sat there motionless, holding a knife, watching his wife and children enjoy the food.
"What's wrong, father?" Torismon stopped talking and looked up at the dazed Theodoric. "Is it because the mutton today doesn't suit your taste? Of course, a frozen sheep can't be as delicious as a living one. I'll prepare fresh mutton tomorrow!"
"No, Torismon, my son." Theodoric just shook his head, "I just feel like we have one more enemy."
"who?"
"Flavius Luca!" Theoderic said, his eyes fixed on the flames in front of him. The blazing fire was dancing in his pupils, as if his heart was burning for it.
At this time, in the hall of the Governor's Palace in Tarraco, a man wearing a heavy robe and holding a golden cross prayed over and over again facing the statue of God hanging on the wall. Behind him, priests, clergy, and nobles who came to pray, all prayed that God would show up and dispel the severe cold they were suffering from.
Although the snow outside had not stopped, the house was full of people and it was warm enough to make people want to take off their clothes. The ignorant guys said that it was God's blessing that at least they could stay here without freezing to death.
The whole prayer lasted for more than an hour, and Leo I himself could not hold on any longer. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief. The heavy robe was indeed too warm and it was a bit tormenting for him.
He turned around and said to the nobles present: "Let's stop praying here today!"
After hearing this, the nobles got up from the ground, bowed to Liang, and then slowly left the Governor's Palace, leaving only Luca, Andres and the priests present.
The Governor's Palace has become a cathedral, and the Pope has made it glorious.
Seeing that most people had left, Liang breathed a sigh of relief, as if the suffocating space suddenly opened up. He slowly walked down the red cloth stall and looked up to see Andres. Andres looked at him with a burning light in his eyes. The corners of his mouth slightly raised, looking particularly weird.
"Okay, there's nothing for you to do here, so go away!" Liang waved at Andres, looking impatient.
A hint of surprise flashed across Andres's face. He looked at Liang and then at Luca, his eyes revealing confusion. He bowed slightly to Liang and then left the hall.
After watching Andres leave, Luca turned around and looked at Liang. He didn't know when a glass of wine appeared in his hand, probably because he had been praying for too long.
"Why, didn't God show up?" Luca couldn't help asking.
"Maybe not today." Liang couldn't resist the thirst in his mouth, so he picked up the wine glass and drank it all. His pale lips finally showed a little blood color. Liang closed his eyes slightly, looking intoxicated.
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"This kind of weather has been going on for more than a year!" Luca added, "More people have frozen to death on the Rhine Line. If the situation doesn't improve, I'm afraid God's people will have to eat each other!"
"You don't seem to believe me, Lord Luca." Liang said in a low voice. He kept shaking the empty wine glass and stared at Luca. "I don't see faith in God in your eyes. I can hear from your tone that you are not only questioning me, but also questioning God."
The fact that Liang could say such words shows that the problem is very serious.
Even facing the Pope's questioning, Luca stood there facing the questioning gazes of the priests and was unmoved. He looked at Liang with a smile, and there was no panic in his words.
"It was like this last year and it's still like this year. I think God has other plans."
After hearing this, Liang stopped shaking the wine glass, and his right hand was seen tightly clenching the wine glass. He glared at Luga because he felt offended by these words.
"You should understand what you are saying, Luga." Liang's tone was quite threatening, but Luga in front of him was not moved at all, and remained calm and composed.
"Of course, papa, I understand very well." Luca crossed his index fingers and continued to say to Liang, "We are suffering from the cold. Of course, our enemies, the pagans, are also suffering. Fortunately, we are his faithful believers. We have steaming bread and warm clothes, while they only have sheepskins. God is punishing them for their disrespect for themselves through the severe cold, and is also testing us to see if we are loyal to his beliefs."
Liang was silent for a long time, and finally burst into unbridled laughter, "Well, Luka, I wronged you. If you don't explain, I might kill you at this moment, you pious and smart guy!"
(End of this chapter)